Our Mission, Our Story, Our Values
Mental Wellness Connection exists because too many Arkansans want counseling but can't reach it. Here's why we started, and what drives our work today.
Bringing Mental Healthcare Within Reach
Mental Wellness Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Bentonville, Arkansas, working to make outpatient mental health care easier to reach for individuals and families across the state. Our work is organized around three focus areas — Awareness, Active Living, and Access to Care — described in more detail on our Focus Areas page.
Awareness. Active Living. Access to Care.
Mental Wellness Connection brings mental healthcare within reach by building awareness of mental health needs, resources, and solutions; encouraging active living and community connection; and expanding access to free and low-cost outpatient mental healthcare for individuals and families facing barriers to care.
An Arkansas where care is within reach
We envision an Arkansas where every individual has timely access to compassionate, quality mental health care — regardless of income, insurance status, or geographic location.
Built from years inside Arkansas's behavioral health system
Mental Wellness Connection was founded after years of working directly within Arkansas's behavioral healthcare system. Every day, we saw people who wanted counseling but could not afford it. Others had insurance with deductibles that made treatment financially impossible. Rural communities often struggled to find available providers, while counseling graduate students needed quality internship placements to complete their education.
Rather than accepting these barriers as inevitable, we created Mental Wellness Connection to bring providers, students, donors, volunteers, and community organizations together around one goal: making mental health care more accessible.
Our work focuses on creating practical solutions that connect people with care when they need it most.
Who Leads Our Work
Kellee McCoy, LPC, LMFT
Founder & Executive Director
A licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical supervisor, and counselor educator, Kellee founded Mental Wellness Connection to expand access to outpatient mental health care across Arkansas.
Board of Directors
Governance
Our Board of Directors currently includes Tonya Peebles (Secretary) and Merideth McCoy (Treasurer). Per our bylaws, the Board may include three to seven directors — we are actively recruiting additional independent board members, with priority given to Bentonville-area community leaders, to strengthen governance as Mental Wellness Connection grows.
What Guides Our Work
Compassion
Every individual deserves dignity, respect, and understanding.
Accessibility
Mental healthcare should be available regardless of income or circumstance.
Collaboration
Communities become healthier when organizations work together.
Integrity
We steward every donation responsibly.
Excellence
We pursue high standards in everything we do.
Hope
Healing begins when people know they are not alone.
Care for Every Stage of Life
Mental Wellness Connection serves individuals, couples, and families across Arkansas, including: